WEAVING NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 234, 25 July 1872, Page 6

WEAVING NEW ZEALAND FLAX.

Mr C. Thome, manufacturer, Dundee, has addressed the Canterbury Flax Association on the above subject as follows .: —

It has been stated to me by outside manufacture, s that New Zealand flax canvas would shrink more than that made from Russian or European flax. My friends who mad<! the yarn and canvas did not agree with this statement. I, however, put it to the practical test by having the three bolts .placed on the grass ,aud there thoroughly .wetted; while lying on the grass a heavy rain fell, and they became completely soaked. Whilst wet they did not shrink more than ordiuary canvas, and when dry and calendered resumed their original condition, as follows :— Length When rewhen When dried received damp. and by me. calendered yds. yds. ft. in. yds. lßolt 3S£ 36 1 6 3S^ 1 „ 41 39 0 3 4l£ 1 „ 40 38 0 9 40 Since I addressed you on the 22nd March I have heard thnt some sheeting has been made from Now Zealand fibre yatn, and that a different kind of sheeting and also some sacking are in hand for me ; but Mr Forbes fin Is great trouble iv getting the manufacturers to weave for him ; and but for his continued exertions, my own endeavors would have not been so speedily successful. Mr Forbes is taking an immense deal of trouble in this matter, and well deserves the thanks of the colo .ists, inasmuch as ht has gone thoroughly into this business, so as practically to test the value of the fibre for textile fabrics, and from the quantity he has now worked up for me, has come to the conclusion it would at first be better to use it as a mixture, and states "if it can be brought in at a fair price, it would be a | great boon." He has had my sheeting made, and states — " I have got a web of your sheeting cropped, and now at the bleach tield to be bleached white. I thought ofj trying this, as it would add very much J to the appearance of the cloth as wel^as clean! it of a great deal of dirt. I think 'you will like it. It will make a go^d-looking cloth, fit for a sheeting or plain table-cloth. It is difficult to make people believe New Zealand fibre can bo f-pun, more especially as some of the reports on this fibre have given details of analytical and microscopical examination, whereiu it has been shown the formation of the fibre will prevent its being taken for fabrics similar to those which are now made from Russian flax and hemp, and Italian hemp, etc. A. few days back I was showina a manufacturer my canvas, and on my tetf} ing him it was made from New Zealand iibre, he laughed, aud coolly told me i was wrong, as the canvas was made from Italian hemp." However, after showing him the raw fibre, the yafi undressed and dressed, he admitted he was wrong, and expressed great astonishment, as he did not believe previously that New Zealand fibre could ba spun. " I have some fibre now with an eminent firm iv Belfast. They have made some of the yarn from it, which they call coarse ; it is, however, finer thau any I have yet seen from New Zealand flax. They are trying further experiments, and it will be some time before they are completed.